Bombardier, Textron building their presence in China, Asia

Bombardier Business Aircraft announced on Monday that Singapore-based Zetta Jet exercised options for two Global 6000 long-range business jets, on the eve of the Asian Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition. Bombardier Business AircraftCourtesy illustration

Bombardier Business Aircraft announced on Monday that Singapore-based Zetta Jet exercised options for two Global 6000 long-range business jets, on the eve of the Asian Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition. Bombardier Business AircraftCourtesy illustration

Bombardier said Zetta Jet exercised options for two Global 6000 long-range business jets. Singapore-based Zetta Jet operates a fleet of six Global jets, Bombardier said in a news release on Monday. It did not disclose the value of the deal for the Global 6000, which lists for $62.3 million, according to FlightGlobal’s 2016 business aircraft guide.

Bombardier also updated the progress of a new maintenance facility under construction in Tianjin, China. It said the 95,766-square-foot facility, in which it is partnering with Tianjin Airport Economic Area, is 90 percent complete. Fourteen technicians there are undergoing six months of training before the center opens.

Textron Aviation said in a news release Monday that three years after establishing a joint venture between Cessna and China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Co. (CAIGA), deliveries of the Cessna Caravan single-engine turboprop have increased nearly 80 percent in country. It did not quantify its total deliveries there but said Shanghai-headquartered Joy Air Holdings has taken delivery of 13 of its initial order of 20 Grand Caravan EX Amphibian aircraft.

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“From establishing assembly and delivery partnerships, to aggressively investing in sales and support personnel, Textron Aviation’s approach of building a localized, company-direct presence in China is not only ensuring Cessna and Beechcraft products remain the leading models in China in the categories in which we compete, but also helping mature the business aviation industry here,” Bill Schultz, Textron Aviation senior vice president of business development in China, said in the release.

ABACE officially kicks off Tuesday in Shanghai, China, and runs through Thursday. Textron Aviation said it will have on static display xx aircraft there: Grand Caravan EX, Cessna Citation XLS-Plus midsize business jet and Beechcraft King Air 350i.